Issue 10, 2016

Highly stable and efficient inverted organic solar cells based on low-temperature solution-processed PEIE and ZnO bilayers

Abstract

Highly efficient and air-stable inverted organic solar cells (IOSCs) were fabricated from solution-processed non-conjugated polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) as the polyelectrolyte, a zinc oxide (ZnO) bilayer as the electron transport layer, and an active layer of thieno[3,4-b]thiophene/benzodithiophene (PTB7) and [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM). When compared to conventional ZnO thin film devices, the incorporation of ZnO with nano-ridge structures (ZnO-R) and large interfacial areas, in addition to low leakage currents, led to an enhancement in power conversion efficiency from 7.41% to 8.38%. Furthermore, the presence of a thin PEIE layer between ITO and ZnO-R not only suppressed the formation of an oxygen deficient state at the ZnO-R surface, but also improved charge carrier mobilities and prevented leakage currents. Consequently, a maximum (average) efficiency of 8.91% (8.86%) and superior air stability with approximately 65% of the initial efficiency being retained after 326 days of storage under ambient atmosphere were achieved.

Graphical abstract: Highly stable and efficient inverted organic solar cells based on low-temperature solution-processed PEIE and ZnO bilayers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
31 Jan 2016
Accepted
03 Feb 2016
First published
04 Feb 2016

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016,4, 3784-3791

Highly stable and efficient inverted organic solar cells based on low-temperature solution-processed PEIE and ZnO bilayers

W. Jin, R. T. Ginting, S. Jin and J. Kang, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 3784 DOI: 10.1039/C6TA00957C

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